Apartment hunting in San Francisco can be a joy in three easy steps:
1. Check out my map. It's a bit messy ("MESS EHHH"), but it contains the unofficial truth about which neighborhoods are good, not so good and to totally be avoided as per:
- My cousin who is a five-year veteran of the city helped and who created the original markings
- Multiple freelance and contracted leasing agents (e.g. Avalon) with whom I got chatty
- Work colleagues, also long-time locals
Note: purple ticks and Gs are a good thing, dollar signs indicate more
expensive areas. Also, it's a bike map, so darker orange indicates
higher elevation.
2. Use PadMapper.com. Everyone tells you Craigslist is the only way to find an apartment in San Francisco. This is 98% true - however, this work of genius is a Craigslist and Google Maps mashup which marks the location of Craigslist listings on a map. Combine with knowledge gained from step one.
3. Ask the right questions. Just ask what they can do discount or otherwise if you are willing to move quickly. Offers received for this simple question included: 10% off annual rent / one month of free rent, 25% discount off parking, remodeling the bathroom, and free decorating (i.e. painting a feature wall). It's clearly a renter's market.
